He has not really established himself at the forefront of the France team’s attack (2 goals in 20 caps), but Marcus Thuram (26 years old) recently indicated that he felt capable of assuming the role starting center forward for the Blues. “Of course, I feel ready to be number nine in the France team, but I am not going to say that I am Giroud’s successor. I signed for Inter last summer to enter a new dimension and open a new chapter. I took responsibility this season and I feel ready to be the French number 9.»
Since then, the Inter player has not particularly scored points during the preparation matches against Luxembourg (3-0), and Canada (0-0), but it is likely that he has more chances of starting Euro 2024 as a starter. Unlike Olivier Giroud. At 37, the future Los Angeles FC player is the top scorer in the history of the Blues (57 goals in 133 caps), but he has made it clear that this European Championship will undoubtedly be his last major competition with the Blues and like what happened before the 2022 World Cup, Didier Deschamps now imagines him as an understudy. A status that no longer bothers Giroud. An experienced player, the former AC Milan resident has proven time and time again that he knows how to turn things around while maintaining team spirit. Faced with Thuram’s comments, his reaction therefore surprised no one.
Giroud plays the collective
“It’s a bit of the story of my career at certain times. It wouldn’t be reasonable to sum up my career like that, but during periods when my back was against the wall, I always managed to bounce back. The most important thing is to stay in the right state of mind. My state of mind remained unchanged, the desire to bring something to this team with what the coach will give me. I think collectively before myself. Whatever my role, I hope to give my best and enjoy every moment because this will be my last competition. He’s an Interist, so not easy for me (laughs)! He’s a little brother. I remember speaking to Lilian, who had some nice words for me. I have this mutual respect for him and Marcus, who is one of the players who will take over up front. I’m here to accompany him. No spirit of competition between us. What a joy to help him. We have to pass the torch”he confided at a press conference.
Ready to play big brothers with Marcus, Giroud still wanted to point out that he is not arriving at the Euro with the mindset of a future international retiree. Moreover, when a journalist teased him on this subject, his response was quick. “In what sense do you perceive me to be less combative? Obviously I prefer to be on the field. Now, I make the coach’s choices. When I return to the field, I will do my best. At the time, I had already been asked the question and naively, I answered that I preferred to be a starter. And there, they had titled: I want to be number one. It doesn’t change my competitive mindset. If I can turn the tide during the competition because I feel combative and ready to do my best for the team, I will do it. Believe me, I’m far from having left in a more cool and relaxed state of mind. I am the same, determined”. It is said !
